Emily and Michael Knotts relied on tag-sale scores, basic hardware-store buys, and a can-do, DIY attitude when renovating their North Carolina lake house. The results redefine the word "homemade."

In the Kitchen

In the Kitchen

Emily Knotts had never thought of herself as the DIY type. Previously, she'd simply whip out her credit card to buy furniture. However, after moving in with her husband, Michael, into his bachelor pad lakehouse, she wanted to fix everything all at once. "I felt like I either had to change my taste or win the lottery," she reckoned.

Kitchen update, $31: The grand total for this kitchen reno includes a $28 gallon of white paint and a $3 tube of wood putty—used to fill holes after the couple removed their upper cabinet doors. (homedepot.com)

Painted Floor

Painted Floor

Because Emily and Michael couldn't afford to put down planks or even veneer to replace the carpet, they ripped it out, then covered the plywood subflooring with pale-gray porch paint. The result—a crisp, low-maintenance look that will last until the Knottses spring for hardwood—revealed that Emily had a knack for visualizing improvements. And that Michael, a property developer, enjoyed turning her visions into reality.